Gearing.



J. T. WALSTON.

GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1911.

1,055, 105. Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

2 SHEETS-*SHEET 1.

/ y I} l awe/Moo fihn T. Walston Wiimeooeo am John T Walston J.- T. WALSTON.

GEARING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1911.

1,055,105. Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

awe/whom JOHN THOMAS WALSTON, OF SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI.

GEARING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

Application filed June 8, 1911. Serial No. 632,011.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN THOMAS WVALs- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Greene and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gearing, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain novel and useful improvements in gearing and has particular application to gearing for washing machines and the like.

In carrying out my invention, it is my purpose to provide a machine of the class described by means of which articles may be readily, quickly and thoroughly washed. Furthermore, I aim to provide a washing machine which will embrace in its construction the desired features of simplicity, durability and eiliciency.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine having a novel form of mechanism for actuating the shaft of the washer which carries the washing plunger, basket or other device, said mechanism in the present instance being manually operated, although I wish it to be understood that it may be driven by mechanical power devices.

With the above-recited objects and others of a similar nature in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the same, and through a tub used in connection therewith. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine and tub.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates an outer tub or other receptacle provided with a cover 2. WVithin said tub and suitably spaced apart therefrom is a second tub 3 having the walls and bottom thereof corrugated as at 1, said walls and bottom being provided with perforations 5. Both of these tubs, are preferably formed of sheet metal, the inner tub being connected to the outer one at the top as at 6, the flange of the inner tub resting upon that of the outer vessel.

My improved washing machine, in its preferred form as shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a frame formed of a triangular base 7 perforated as at 8, and three arched standards or legs 9 converging at their upper ends as at 10 and carrying the horizontally disposed parallel plates 11, which are suitably spaced apart and, in conjunction with the ends of the legs form a boxing for the pulley mechanism of the washer. The parallel plates 11 are formed with vertical bores 12, for the passage of the tubular sleeve 13, the lower end of said sleeve being split as at 14L and circumferentially threaded as at 15 for the reception of the threaded collar 16, the latter having a milled flange 17 for convenience in adjusting the collar on the threaded end of the sleeve. The upper end of the sleeve which projects through the top plate 11 is formed with a shoulder 18 for the purpose hereinafter described. Extending through the sleeve is the vertical shaft 19, which is flattened for a considerable distance intermediate its ends at one side as at 20, the upper end 21 of said shaft having a handle 22 by means of which the shaft may be raised and lowered, said shaft having a notch 23 formed therein, which, when such shaft is elevated to the extreme of its limit of upward movement, is designed to engage with the shoulder at the end of the sleeve and hold such shaft in elevated position. To the lower end of the shaft is designed to be detachably connected a washer block or the like. In the present instance, I have shown the shaft as carrying a washer block comprising a circular head 23 carried by the sleeve 24, which sleeve is connected by a removable pin 25 to the end of the shaft. The bottom of the head is provided with a number of outwardly inclined clothes engaging arms 26. If desired, the washer block may be removed, and other washing devices connected with the end of the shaft.

The operating shaft is rotated by means of a stepped pulley 81 fast on the sleeve 13, said pulley havmg, as will be seen, belt flanges of different diameters, the flanges 32-32 being of relatively greater diameter than those at 3333. The drive belts for the pulleys are shown at 34l-34, one end of each belt being attached to the peripheral face of one of the pulleys, while the opposite end of each of said belts is'attached near one end of the operating lever 35 which is pivoted or fulcrumed centrally at 36 to the end of the bracket 37 carried by the frame, said lever having handles 38-38 by means of which the lever may be rocked to impart movement to the pulleys for the purpose of rotating the shaft in both directions and consequently imparting motion to the washer block or basket to cause the latter to turn back and forth.

It will be noted that the height of the washer block or other device relative to the tub may be adjusted by loosening the screw collar on the end of the sleeve and moving said shaft vertically to the desired extent. Then the proper adjustment to the shaft has been attained, the collar is again tightened, causing the split end of the sleeve to be drawn together, thereby connecting the sleeve and shaft so that the latter is held against movement.

The numeral 3-9 indicates a fuel reservoir from which a conducting pipe 40 extends down alongside one of the legs of the frame and is then turned inward as at 41 beneath the base, the end of the pipe being connected to the burner 42. A

From'the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent. The tub is placed upon the base, and the burner lighted to heat the water within the tub. The shaft carrying the washer block or other washing device is then lowered into the tub and the clothes having been placed in said tub, the cover is applied to the latter and the shaft and its washing or rubbing connection rotated back and forth by means of the two-handled lever. As the rubbing block or washer is thus actuated the clothes are thoroughly washed by the agitation of the water and by the swirling motion imparted to the clothes by the device.

It will be noted that I have provided an exceedingly simple and efficient device by which articles may be washed with a minimum expenditure of time and labor. Furthermore, by employing pulleys of two diameters, I am enabled to obtain the necessary power required in washing different articles.

VhileI have herein shown and described one partlcular embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to all the precise details of construction herein set forth as modification and variation may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim l. The combination with a frame comprising a base, standards extending upward from said base and converging at their upper ends, a sleeve at the upper portion of the frame, said sleeve having a threaded split lower end portion and a shouldered upper end portion, a two-speed pulley fixed on said sleeve, a shaft extending through the sleeve and having a flattened portion intermediate its ends, said flattened portion having a notch adapted to engage the shouldered end of the sleeve when the shaft is elevated a predetermined distance, a collar threaded on the split end of the sleeve to adjustably connect said sleeve and shaft, a bracket extending from said frame, a horizontally disposed lever pivoted at its center to said bracket, and drive belts connected to the ends of the lever and to the two-speed pulley to actuate said shaft.

2. The combination with a frame comprising a base portion and standards therefor, of a sleeve carried at the upper portion of the frame and having a split end portion,

a shaft extending from said sleeve, a collar threaded onto the split end of the sleeve and adjustably connected to said shaft and sleeve, a pulley on the sleeve having belt flanges of different diameters, a horizontally V disposed oscillating lever, and belts connected to the lever and the pulley for imparting a rotary motion to the shaft.

In testimony whereof I affix my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN THOMAS WALSTON.

Witnesses:

H. C. WATKINS, JNo. HAMFELED.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

